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Thursday, November 18, 2010

As I’ve bored you with for the past two weeks, I’m water running. Almost.every.stinking.day. I only do this because I have a hip stress fracture and cannot run for real. This has opened up a whole new world of flotation belts, iPods clipped to visors, geriatric friends, peeing in the pool and shaving the pubes daily.

It’s only fair that I capture the experience for you live. The video does not disappoint. It’s just like you were there with me.

Today, after the water aerobic ladies (AKA “pussy posse”) vacated the deep end, we shot our footage. The adventure started at my house.

Indulge me. (And a special music treat for all those running in Philly).

Believe me, if you do intervals for 40-60 minutes and your form is right, it’s a GREAT workout. And…someone asked why I wear the hat. Usually I clip my iPod to it.

You don’t have to be injured to do it. It can be used as an alternative workout for anyone who wants to add mileage without adding the impact or stress of running on land. It can also serve as a backup plan on those cold, nasty days when you don't want to go outside or are tired of the treadmill

Heart rate will always be 10% lower in the water. 160 bpm in water = 176 bpm on land.

Water should be deep enough that you cannot touch the bottom of the pool.

Runners tend to have more lean body mass than swimmers, making them less buoyant so a flotation device is usually needed. If a flotation device is not worn, body position can become compromised and an undue emphasis is placed on the muscles of the upper body and arms to keep the body afloat

Form should be upright, slight tilt at the hip, legs come up about 75 degree angle to hip then pull down to an almost full extension down and behind you. High knees pushing forward (not up) through the water using your HIPS

Tops of the shoulders, the neck, and the head should be above the surface of the water

Head is centered, there is a slight lean forward at the waist, and the chest is “proud,” or expanded, with the shoulders pulled back, not rotated forward. Elbows are bent at 90 degrees, and movement of the arms is driven by the shoulders (source).

When you are doing things properly you should feel that you are running hard uphill. If your legs are not screaming for mercy during hard efforts then you are either doing something incorrect or just not pushing hard enough!!

Fun fact: Olympic runner, Mary Decker Slaney set a world record at 2,000 meters after a month in the pool and only one fast track workout prior to that race.

OMG, stfu. Hilarious. I just woke up to 2 kids screaming at each other (one wanted bologna, and the other wouldn't get it for him) and I get online to check email/facebook before getting ready, and see this?! I love it.

Love the video! And thanks for doing it - I might be the only stupid one on here, but after watching Deena Kastor in Spirit of the Marathon, I totally thought that you needed a shmancy underwater treadmill to "water run." Now I know that you just need a goofy floaty. I learned something today! Thanks ;)

Teammarcia - actually, you're not supposed to run without the floatie. Runner's don't have much fat (usually) so we sink. In order to stay up w/o the floatie, we would use to much arm strength and form would would degrade. Believe me, the workout is plenty hard with the device.

I did lots of pool running before my first marathon since I had to take 5 weeks off about 2 months out from the race. It worth to keep up your fitness level even if you have to fight with kids wearing floaties for a spot in the deep end.

I'm going to admit my ignorance... I had NO CLUE... that was not how I mentally pictured aqua jogging. Can't wait to see you back on the pavement, but this injury has definitely made for some interesting posts. ;-)

I wonder how many nasty hits you've got off that title!! Just think of the freaks who have watched that video-perhaps more than just "watched" the video! I got quite the laugh out of this-definitely an possible award winning short documentary! I'm so impressed at you and the pool workouts. You are much more diligent than I!!!!